A Games again overshadowed by politics, with a revenge boycott led by the Soviet Union saw 14 Eastern Bloc nations pull out after the USA refused to take part in Moscow four years earlier.

With the majority of the Eastern European nations absent, the path was clear for USA to dominate on the track and a certain Carl Lewis did not disappoint. The legendary sprinter won four golds in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and long jump.

Britain enjoyed plenty of success on the track, with Seb Coe becoming the first man to successfully defending the 1500m title, beating Steve Cram into second. Coe missed on the 800m title, being forced to settle for silver behind Joaquim Cruz of Brazil.

The Los Angeles Colisseum witness a titanic battle in the decathlon, with Daley Thompson pipping Jurgen Hingsen to gold. The javelin gold also went to Britain as Tessa Sanderson beat Fatima Whitbread into third.

Steve Redgrave set out on his Olympic journey, winning the first of his gold medals as part of the coxed fours.

The Forum played host to the basketball and the crowds got a glimpse of arguably the greatest player ever to step on a court, as Michael Jordan led the USA to a gold medal.

Neroli Fairhall was the first paraplegic athlete to take part in a medal event when she competed in a wheelchair in the Archery.

Money was a driving force behind the Games, with it being the first to take place without any government backing. The organisation committee took the decision to use existing venues as opposed to incurred the huge costs of building new ones, while sponsorship was in focus with swimmers taking to the pool in the McDonald's Swim Stadium and cyclists shooting round the track in the 7-Eleven Velodrome. The heavy sponsorship drew criticism, but they organisers were left with broad smiles as the Games came in with a profit of $150 million.